Jemma Ewin does not come across as a victim. The former accountant speaks in precise, clipped tones, even when describing the sexual harassment culminating in unwanted sex with a colleague that cost her her career, her house and years battling in the legal system.

Speaking exclusively to the ABC's 7.30 program, Ms Ewin describes the harassment that began in early 2009, when contractor Claudio Vergara joined her financial recovery team at Living and Leisure Australia.

"He made a number of vulgar statements such as he has a big d*** and he's going to f*** me over my desk with it," she said.

"He made statements that he fantasised about what he was going to do to me over my desk and masturbated in the office shower as well as in his own shower at home over his sexual fantasies regarding myself."

Ms Ewin firmly rejected the married man's advances and told her boss, but Mr Vergara remained on her team and Ms Ewin says she was essentially told to "get on with it".

The harassment continued. On May 15, 2009 her company's finance team had drinks at the Melbourne Aquarium with a group of around 20 people, including Mr Vergara, before moving on to the Insignia Bar.

At the bar Ms Ewin, who maintains she had had only a moderate amount to drink, suddenly felt ill.

This will be the last memory I have – I'm against the wall, it's dark, and Mr Vergara's face is shoved in my face. And that's my last memory.

"I suddenly felt like I couldn't stand up. I started to sweat and I was in the bathroom vomiting, and another employee came in to make sure I was OK," she said.

"This will be the last memory I have – I'm against the wall, it's dark, and Mr Vergara's face is shoved in my face. And that's my last memory."

"The impression I got from the [police] report was ... they were more trying to disprove the matter than prove the matter," said Rod Keuris, a policeman of 20 years-turned lawyer who was hired by Ms Ewin to review her case.

"The police will probably prosecute on cases that are maybe less than what happened with Jemma ... I think in this case they should have erred on the side of caution and gone to a committal proceeding and let a magistrate make a decision."

Ms Ewin calls for inquiry into Victoria Police's handling of her case

Ms Ewin was reinterviewed by Victoria Police in December 2010 after she had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions, complaining about criminal charges not being brought.

The four-hour interview did not go well.

"They weren't happy that I had questioned their original decision," she said.

"They told me that they felt I had made it all up. And that it was just an affair that I was trying to cover up. And that I should go home."

But Ms Ewin did not give up.

Despite being told on three separate occasions there was not enough evidence for criminal charges to be laid, she and her husband Matthew sold their home to fund a civil case of sexual harassment against Claudio Vergara.

She says her win this week vindicates her decision to fight, but again questioned Victoria Police's decision not to proceed with a criminal charge.

"It's cost us children. It's cost us happiness and it's like somebody stole five years of our happily ever after," she said.

It's cost us children. It's cost us happiness and it's like somebody stole five years of our happily ever after.

Jemma Ewin

Ms Ewin has called for an inquiry into the police's handling of her case.

Since this week's Federal Appeals Court decision, and the subsequent media interest, Victoria Police has told 7.30 it will conduct an internal investigation which will re-examine the handling of the original investigation.

Leading sexual harassment lawyer Michael Harmers says Ms Ewin's success in the civil court system is an inspiration for other victims of sexual harassment.

"Here the civil system has stepped up and, at a lesser level of onus, has found sufficient evidence to make a finding and to give a significant award, which I think is a major deterrent for other conduct of this nature and an inspiration for other women to take a stand," Mr Harmer said.

Claudio Vergara has always maintained that the sex was consensual and his lawyer says he is considering a further appeal, and for this reason is not commenting at this time.

Ms Ewin is now looking forward to putting the experience behind her.

"It's a vindication that hanging in for the journey is worth it, but it's also the closure of a long, long arduous journey in the legal system," she said.

"I look forward to finding that bubbly bright professional person that I was before the 15th of May."